Pancakes at Dawn

Chapter Twelve

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Hermione flicked through the pages of a potions book, glancing up every so often to look at Draco, who was stirring the thick liquid in the cauldron. Wisps of silver steam were floating above the black cauldron, the smell of lavender filling his office. She took in a deep breath, her eyes stopping on a potion ingredient shown in the book.

"What about powdered moonstone?" Hermione asked him, turning the page.

"I like your thinking," replied Draco, wiping his brow. "Draught of Peace?"

"It might help calm things," she said, motioning to herself. He snorted and continued to stir.

Silence engulfed them for the next few minutes as the pair grew deep into their own thoughts, only the sounds of turning pages and sloshing liquids from inside the cauldron could be heard.

"I've got it!" shouted Hermione suddenly, making Draco jump. His head shot up as he looked over at her. Her nose remained buried in the book she was holding and he couldn't stop a smile from spreading onto his face. He had it bad, he knew that. Just looking at her gave him a buzz.

"What?" he asked her and he stopped stirring.

Hermione remained silent but slowly rose her feet, her eyes not moving from the book in her hands. Her eyes were wide as she wandered across the room, coming to a stop beside Draco, who by now had turned to watch her.

"What are you thinking?" he questioned as he could practically see the cogs turning inside of her head. She shrugged.

"I don't know if it will work, but I can try." she muttered, placing the book down on the bench and her eyes began scanning the shelves above them which were filled with potion ingredients.

"If what will work?"

Draco crossed his arms across his chest as she bumped her hip with his, essentially pushing him out of the way. He chuckled deeply, watching her reach up for a jar on the top shelf. Even in her heels, she still wasn't tall enough. He scooted closer to her so that he was standing over her and placed a hand on her hip. With his free hand, he reached up and grabbed the jar she was aiming for. She smiled softly at him when he handed the jar, which he could now see contained chopped up ginger roots. He placed a small kiss against her temple and she let out a breath she had been holding, a content sigh falling from her lips.

"Are you going to share your brilliant idea?" asked Draco.

"I will if it works," replied Hermione as she popped the lid and shook a handful of ginger roots into her hand. Counting carefully, she threw six into the cauldron which released a large puff of steam and tipped the rest back into the jar. Draco watched, almost entranced as she plucked glass jars off the shelves, each containing different items and she began to throw the ingredients into the cauldron, only stopping to ask Draco to provide a little magic every now and again. She was acting like this was so natural to her, more natural than he had seen her since she had come back into his life. She had an obvious gift and talent for potion making, that much was clear.

Hermione splashed some Salamander Blood into the cauldron and the liquid turned a bright purple colour, bubbling and popping rather loudly. Draco, who had remained quiet during all of this, finally spoke when she took a step back away from the cauldron, screwing a lid back on the powdered moonstone jar.

"You're amazing," he breathed out, shaking his head in disbelief. He couldn't believe she had created a perfect combination after being away for so long. Between the two of them, he knew they had cracked it.

"No," she shook her own head at that. "I'm just logical and I have a very good memory."

"Hermione, I was serious about that job offer, you know."

"I know you were," said Hermione with a small sigh. She knew he was serious and she loved being around him but she also knew she couldn't. "But I was serious when I told you I wouldn't return to the wizarding world."

"You're here now, aren't you? What's the difference?" asked Draco.

Hermione brushed her hair from her face and she let her eyes drop to the floor. He was right. She was there, in a busy building for a wizarding business. She was more than happy to be there with him but she couldn't deny the feeling of terror she felt if she heard voices outside of the door. She couldn't escape that feeling. She was scared and she knew she shouldn't be. She trusted Draco after all. She didn't have any reason to think he would betray her. However, Hermione had to be realistic. How long could the relationship last before she was forced to call it off?

"Draco-"

She was cut off by a cheery pop song playing through out the room. Draco cocked his head to the side and watched as the brunette span on her heels and wandered across the room to her bag. She rummaged inside for a minute before pulling her phone out and lifting it to her ear.

"Hello? Dani, Hi! No, I'll be there soon. I'm not far." said Hermione, speaking into the phone. "Alright, I'll see you soon. Bye!"

When she had put the phone back in her bag, Draco chose to speak.

"You're leaving?"

Hermione looked up at the sound of his voice and she inwardly groaned as she watched him sheepishly lift his hand up, his fingers rubbing the back of his head as his muscles strained against his shirt. The brunette felt a surge of heat overcome her and she squeaked quietly.

"I told you fifty minutes." was her reply, still staring at him as her eyes flashed with lust for a single second. He smirked at the look on her face, recognizing it.

"What did you put in that potion?"

"Nothing." she gasped out, feeling hotter by the second, like her skin was on fire.

"You breathed in the powdered moonstone, didn't you?" his smirk widened at this, stalking towards her like a jungle cat. She shook her head quickly, but the squeak that slipped from her lips was telling. She crossed a leg over the other as she stood, tensing and squeezing to try and stop the feeling, anything to stop it. She needed friction, she needed-

"Hermione," she heard Draco say and she could practically hear his smirk now. She could not longer see him however as her vision was starting to blur, her breaths becoming shallow. "Hermione, are you alright?"

"The moonstone-" she groaned and screwed her eyes shut, grinding her teeth together. She knew what she had done almost immediately. Powdered moonstone was a common potion ingredient. It was not only used in anxiety and peace potions but if ingested during the right circumstances, it become a essential part of love or lust potion. One didn't need to ingest it however, if you breathed in too much during brewing stages, it could set off similar effects although just not as long lasting. Draco knew this, which is why he was always so careful around the powder. Hermione, having been away for so long, had completely forgotten. "The fucking moonstone!"

Draco began to creep closer towards her until he was direct in front of her. She bit her bottom lip, her eyes wide and filled with sexual desire and his smirk only widened.

"You need to take deeper breaths," said Draco, swiping a finger across her cheek making her gasp.

"No," she gulped out. "Draco, I need..."

Hermione trailed off as she took a fistful of his shirt in her hands. His hand gripped at her hips and his lips were inches from hers.

"Tell me what you need, Hermione." his voice was low, almost a throaty whisper. The sound sent shivers down her spine, producing goosebumps on her arms.

"Fuck it, I need you."

"But Danielle-"

"Danielle can wait!"

Draco needed no convincing. His strong hands slipped down and gripped the back of her thighs, hoisting her up as his lips attacked hers. Her legs wrapped around his waist as he carried her off towards the desk. Setting her down, he swiped at objects which went crashing down to the floor and Hermione winced at the smashing sound.

"I'll fix it later," he muttered before kissing her once more, pulling at her clothes to remove them as quick as he possibly could.

Hermione hurried to Danielle's flat block, running her hand through her curls to try and flatten the uncontrollable sex hair she currently had going on. She knew Danielle would pick up on it immediately and wouldn't let it go. Reaching up to ring the doorbell of the main door, she was buzzed in and she ran up the stairs, trying to take two at a time. She was forty minutes later after all and Danielle was going to kill her! When she reached the bright red door, which she recognized so well, she knocked and was met rather quickly by a red faced brunette with her hands on her hips.

"What time do you call this?"

"Sorry," Hermione said, smoothing out her pencil skirt as best she could. Danielle raised an eyebrow and smirked. "I was just-"

"Who is he?"

"Sorry?" asked Hermione, eyes wide and telling.

"Who's the lucky guy, Mione?" Danielle's smirk turned into a smile as she grabbed her bag and her house keys, closing the door behind her.

"He's – It's – No one." she stuttered out.

"So he is a he then?" laughed Danielle as she linked arms with her friend leading her down the hallway.

"Shut up,"

"Come on," said Danielle with a laugh. "You can tell me all about this 'no one' on the way."

Hermione tucked a strand of hair behind her ears as she strolled towards Emerald Potions Supplies back door. It was late in the day and Draco should be due to leave any minute. Yet, he had invited her for some extra training this evening. The had let the potion simmer for two days and Draco thought today would be the day to try it. He met her at the door with a smile and a kiss before leading her inside. The office was deserted, the staff members having gone home for the evening. He walked with her down to the modified room where they did all of their training, closing the door behind them. He had set a table in the centre of the room with a tea set in the middle. A bright red table cloth covered the wooden piece of furniture and the flowery white teapot sat front and centre, surrounded by several cups and saucers. Behind the china sat the black cauldron bubbling and spitting. The potion.

"What's on the agenda today then?" asked Hermione with a smile as she shrugged her bag off her shoulder and letting it fall to the floor.

"Teacups." replied Draco, leading her slowly towards the table. "I want you to try some basic transfiguration. Small, precise movements with wandless magic is a step in the right direction. We can try something a little more difficult later, after you've taken some of the potion."

"Sounds good," said Hermione with a small smile as she wandered over to pick up the small white teacup with pretty pink flowers on the side, lifting it away from the saucer that it was settled on. He followed after her and placed a gentle hand against her arm as she took a deep breath.

Hermione allowed her eyes to flutter shut for a second, concentrating on the feeling of Draco's fingers running up and down her arm, tickling and distracting. She breathed out slowly, her mouth forming an 'O' shape as she did before she let herself smile.

"Remember," Draco whispered into her ear. "Slow and small yet very precise movements."

"Mhmm," nodded Hermione, still enjoying the feeling of his fingers, trying to stop her mind from drifting onto other things, like where she really wanted Draco's fingers to be. With a slow wave of her left hand, the teacup that was balanced precariously in her right palm changed into a clear shot glass, cold against her skin.

Draco peppered soft kisses against her cheek as the shot glass changed back into the teacup. She giggled lightly as it rocked back and forth on her hand, settling after a few moments.

"Well done," Draco said, his breath tickling her ear and his voice like music. "Now, I'm going to move away slightly. Just relax and change it again."

True to his word, Draco stepped back and removed his hand from her. Sucking in a bought of courage, she blinked twice and then with her mind completely focused, she watched as the teacup transformed into the shot glass once more. She gasped and let out a delighted laugh as she realised what she had done. Up until now, Hermione had been completely dependant on Draco's presences while doing magic. He had to be impossibly close, he had to have some form of touch on her. She needed him, she still did. Joy overcome her, however, at the realisation that she had done this by herself for the first time in years.

"Well done!" praised Draco from behind her. She didn't turn around to face him. She didn't want to lose her concentration.

For several more minutes, Hermione changed the teacup to a shot glass and back again, enjoying the small buzzing feeling she was feeling in her fingers as she did. It felt safe, like she wasn't overdoing it. She was just about to change the tiny china cup again when she heard a voice behind her.

"Hello Hermione,"

Hermione let out a gasp and the cup fell from her hands, smashing into pieces on the floor. She knew that voice. Her hands shook as she slowly turned around, spotting a man leaning against the door frame. She hadn't even heard the door open. He looked exactly the same. The same shaggy black hair, the same deep green eyes and the same rounded black glasses. She glanced over at Draco for a second who was glancing between the two with slightly wide eyes, his arms crossed over his chest. Looking back at the man by the door, she let out a shaky breath and sighed.

"Harry."

Sorry this is a little late! Yesterday was my four year anniversary with my boyfriend so we went away and I didn't get much of chance to be near my laptop to get this uploaded.

Unbeta'd so all mistakes are my own.

Leave a review and let me know your thoughts!